Food News Flash – January: Restaurant openings, new menus and happy hours

It’s a new year, and that means a whole host of new openings and new menus! We’ve put together our top pick of the latest food news in Hong Kong, so make sure you’re up-to-date with what’s hot and happening in the F&B world… and don’t forget to sate the appetite of course!

NEW OPENINGS 

Boomshack
If you’re a fan of mouthwatering food-truck style snacks, then you’ve GOT to try out Boomshack. Seen the movie Chef? You’ll be able to sample the same kind of moreish delights at Chef Austin Fry’s new joint in Central. Think kimchi burgers or keep it local with a yummy char siu wrap… if you’re a fan of the food at Brickhouse and Mavericks, then you’ve got to try this place out.

Boomshack, Shop B, G/F, 8-12 Wo On Lane, Central, 2660 5977, www.facebook.com/boomshackhk

Crafty Cow
This cool new gastro pub opened just before the Xmas hols too, so if you didn’t get a chance to give it a try, then head on over! Set on the trendy Upper Station Street in Sheung Wan (which is conveniently close to Sassy HQ!), Crafty Cow stays true to its name, serving up craft beers and delicious beef. Introducing the concept of ‘Third Culture Dining’, this should be an interesting and unusual take on native flavours fused with international influences… stay tuned for our review.

Crafty Cow, 3 Upper Station Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, 2915 8988, www.craftycow.hk

The Butcher’s Club
The Butcher’s Club is on a roll! Yep, they rounded off 2014 with TWO new openings. After the roaring success of their Burger joint in Wan Chai, they’ve now opened up a second outlet in Central on Wellington Street. And up the road by PMQ is their brand new Steak Frites restaurant, which serves up one thing and one thing only (we’re sure you can guess what it is…), steak and chips! We can’t wait to check out both new ventures, so stay tuned for our reviews coming soon.

Steak Frites by The Butcher’s Club, UG/F, 52-56 Staunton Street, Central, Hong Kong, www.butchersclub.com.hk/steak_frites 

Awakening
Kick off the New Year by trying this health conscious new resto in Sai Ying Pun. The ‘Paleo Plus’ diet (just add legumes and grains – in moderation – to a paleo diet) served up includes hearty yet healthy meals and is split up into ‘Things From the Garden’, ‘Things That Walk or Swim’, ‘Veggies Done Right 40’ and ‘Sweet – Gluten Free and Sugar Free’. Think Lentil and Pumpkin Stew or Quinoa with Avocado if you’re going veggie, and Grass-Fed Tenderloin or even Ostrich Steak if you’re feeling carnivorous. We can’t wait to check out this new spot that’s sure to attract all the health buffs…

Awakening, G/F 1-6 Ying Wa Terrace, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, www.theawakeninghk.com

Hawker 18
If you’re craving some Singaporean food, then make the trek out to Kwai Fong to discover the delicious dishes at Hawker 18. The cool but casual funky decor is the perfect place for a relaxed meal with mates, and you won’t be disappointed by the food. Inspired by the no-frills fare of Singaporean hawker stalls, Hawker 18 serves up all the favourites. From satay skewers and Gado Gado, to a selection of noodles and curries, Hawker 18 is guarantee to sate your appetite for Singaporean delights.

Hawker 18, Shop 410-412, Level 4, Metroplaza, 223 Hing Fong Road, Kwai Fong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 2156 2228, hawker18.com.hk

Fresh Modern Kitchen
Situated on Hollywood Road, this cool new resto is bound to please, serving up dishes that really do reflect the name! With great ingredients, seasonal drinks and daily specials, this is sure to become an easy hangout for after work drinks and dinners.

Fresh Modern Kitchen, Shop C, Upper G/F, Felicity Building, 56-58 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong, 2771 1328, www.facebook.com/FreshModernKitchen

Linguini Fini
We’re oh-so happy that one of our Sassy faves, Linguini Fini, is now back in action… but at a new location! Previously at The L. Place, Linguini Fini now resides in Soho (where Fat Angelos used to be) and is looking great. The sleek decor is inviting and only steps from the escalator makes it convenient to get to. Try it out for delicious fresh pasta and other homemade Italian/American crowd-pleasing dishes.

Linguini Fini, 49 Elgin Street, Soho, Central, Hong Kong, 2387 6338, www.linguinifini.com

Lai Bun Fu
Lai Bun Fu on On Lan Street is now open! With amazing Chef Chun Kin Leung behind the helm (he’s cooked for the likes of George Bush and Margaret Thatcher!), you know that the food here is going to be top notch. Expect fine, traditional Chinese food with a modern twist that’s sure to entice and delight your tastebuds. The exquisite dishes use only the finest ingredients, so if you’re looking to splash out this month for a birthday, then you should definitely check this out.

Lai Bun Fun, 5/F, 18 On Lan Street, Central, Hong Kong, 2564 3868, www.laibunfu.com

Kobab & Koshi
New to Lan Kwai Fong is Kobab & Koshi, which serves up quick, easy and tasty burgers and Korean fare. Expect fried chilli chicken (watch out for the spicy kick!), mouthwatering meaty burgers and burritos with a Korean twist. This is the ultimate comfort food spot, and with its location bang in the middle of LKF, you’re bound to end up here when you’re feeling a bit peckish after one too many drinks…

Kobab & Koshi, 6 Wo On Lane, Lan Kwai Fong, Central, Hong Kong, 2812 6887, www.facebook.com/kobabnkoshi

NEW MENUS AND PROMOTIONS

Blue Butcher Snack Attack
Attention all meat lovers! Blue Butcher has just launched a whole new snack menu so you can get your fix of greasy but oh-so-good favourites such as the restaurant’s signature fries, foie gras and chicken liver, sliders and beetroot salad (if you’re trying to shed the winter weight). For a lazy weekend, pop down to Blue Butcher’s brunch which is now open from 11am to 3pm, and indulge in the foie gras and waffle stations for $390 / person.

Blue Butcher, 108 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong, 2613 9286, www.bluebutcher.com

Bread Street Kitchen & Bar Brunch
If you haven’t been to Gordon Ramsay’s new outpost in Hong Kong, now’s the time to try it out with the kiddos with the launch of their Lazy Loaf brunch! Any mention of the word “lazy” in a brunch menu and we’re there, right? Indulge in a spread of classic British fare, including Fish & Chips, Shepherd’s Pie, Yorkshire Pudding, Sunday Roast with Vegetables and Bread Street’s signature Short Rib Burger with Monterey Jack Cheddar Cheese and Spicy Sriracha Mayo… yum! Bread Street is also serving up FIVE different kinds of egg dishes to give you a hearty start to the day, ranging from classic Eggs Benedict to a full English Breakfast. The kiddos can satisfy their sweet tooth with a full-on dessert menu, including a range of ice cream flavours, Banana Sticky Toffee Pudding, Eton Mess and Chocolate Brownie with Mint and Chip Ice Cream. Brunch is served from 11am-3pm. Add $188 for free-flowing wine, bubbly and cocktails.

Bread Street Kitchen & Bar, Mezzanine Level, LKF Hotel, 33 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong, 2230 1800, www.diningconcepts.com/breadstreetkitchenbar, [email protected]

East Indies x Tam Kwan Yuen Pop-up
Foodies and art lovers, mark this date in your diaries! East Indies, a modern Southeast Asian restaurant concept, has teamed up with Singaporean water-colourist Tam Kwan Yuen for a tasty weekend of spice-infused snacks, cocktails and award-winning art. Taking place at the end of the month, the two-day event will fun from 30-31 January at the Fringe Club in Central from 6-10pm with free entry to the public. The small plates served will showcase the blend of modern cooking techniques with age-old family recipes that East Indies is known for, and will be priced at $60-80 / plate. Dishes include Rendang Steak, Empal Pasta, Perkedel Croquettes, Gado-Gado Veggie Dip and Chicken Pops, and will be paired with innovative cocktails from master mixologist Nicholas Lim. The selection of award-winning art will be available for purchase as well, with pieces starting as low as $5,000.

Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central, Hong Kong, 2521 7251, www.facebook.com/eastindiesrestaurant

Peruvian Pop-Up
If you’re craving a taste of exotic cuisine, stop by the Landmark Mandarin Oriental from 19 to 21 January for an exclusive three-night pop-up restaurant featuring the gastronomic creations of Diego Muñoz, Head Chef of Astrid y Gastón. Explore the exotic Peruvian landscapes and history through Chef Diego’s dishes, that burst with creativity, innovation and flavour. Guests will savour some of South America’s most innovative dishes such as Esparrago Peruano (Peruvian asparagus), Chupe de Langosta (lobster chupe) and Seco de Cordeo (lamb dry stew) during the pop-up dinner at the notable 5-star hotel. Priced at $2,688 per person. For reservations, call 2132 0086 or email [email protected].

The Landmark, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong, 2132 0086, www.mandarinoriental.com/landmark 

Nespresso at Hysan Place
Coffee lovers, get your java fix from now through April at Nespresso’s new pop-up at Hysan Place mall in Causeway Bay. Enjoy Nespresso’s premium coffee blends at this pop-up boutique in-between bouts of shopping and fuel up for the day! Located on the 2nd floor of the mall, this is Nespresso’s first Asia pop-up concept boutique, and will offer guests a break from their busy day as they sip on delicious coffee blends including hazelnut, chocolate and vanilla. Nespresso is going eco-friendly too with a recycling point for all those used capsules!

Nespresso Hysan Place Pop-up Boutique, Shop 210, Level 2, Hysan Place, 500 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

A Healthy Delivery
Delivery.com is making detoxing a little easier this January with a range of healthy packages delivered straight to your doorstep. Load up on supplements, superfoods and green powders from Body Awakening ($1,100 for a 4-week package) or knock down some delicious drink blends with Pure Swell Six Flavour Kits, with a 10% discount! Genie Concepts is also offering a 10% discount through January – juicing has never been easier! Head to hk.delivery.com now to place your order!

Taste of the Catalan
Enjoy an authentic Catalan culinary experience at celebrated Spanish restaurant Rústico, featuring a special “Calcots” dish from 15 January onwards which celebrates this special kind of product only available in winter. Similar to a Japanese leek, calcots are grilled and served on traditional red roof tiles to keep the heat, alongside a serving of romesco sauce. Eat it the traditional way by holding the root end of the calcot and pulling out the leaves from the middle – then dip it in the sauce and enjoy! Rustico’s winter menu also encompasses grilled fish and chorizo, Spanish vineyard snails and Iberian ham in garlic sauce… pop down now for a true taste of the Catalan!

Rústico, G01, G/F D2 Place, 9 Cheung Yee Street, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 2743 4511, www.facebook.com/rustico.hk

Salad in a Jar 
Follow through on your healthy new year’s resolutions with Mandarin Oriental’s nutritious offerings for 2015. Ditch the cakes for healthy on-the-go options with the Mandarin Cake Shop’s “Salad in a Jar” menu. Choose from Greek, Prawn, Chef’s and Rocket – each priced at $98 for Monday-Friday lunch. At Café Causette, a new bento box lunch and dinner set menu features great value sets including Salad of Beetroot, Burrata and Walnut, Lasagna al Forno and Wild Mushroom Pizza. Finally, The Clipper Lounge is launching a Moët Rosé Sunday Brunch and Afternoon Tea available on the first weekend of every month, priced at $748 / person with free-flow Moët & Chandon Rosé Imperial Champagne, a raw sushi bar, salad bar, hot dishes and a carving station. 

Mandarin Oriental, 5 Connaught Road, Central, Hong Kong, 2825 4061, www.mandarinoriental.com

Retox at The Woods 
Usher in a new year at The Woods with ‘Detox-to-Retox Mondays’, where customers will enjoy a five-bottle set of freshly-squeezed juice blends served in an ice bucket, ending with a low-alcohol juice cocktail (because we don’t want to take all the fun out of it, right)? Feel healthy while still getting your cocktail fix – sounds like a good deal to us! The set is $280 for two people with a supplementary $80 for food pairing. Fresh juices include water with mint, lemon zest and blueberry, and carrot juice with ginger and Kamm & Sons Ginseng Liqueur. Available until 9 February.

The Woods, L/G, 17 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong, 2522 0281, www.thewoods.hk

East meets West
Dig into an all-new menu at Gaia Group’s GLASSHOUSE, showcasing the best of East-Meets-West cuisine, including roasted duck and cucumber rice paper roll with sweet prune dressing, Iberico pork neck with green salad and apple wood with BBQ dressing, and Korean beef-style steak sandwich. When you’ve had your fill of savoury, tuck into a range of sweet treats, including strawberry caramella with whipped cream and crispy rice flakes, banana and dark chocolate with coconut, mango and vanilla with toasted almonds fillet.

GLASSHOUSE, Shop 4009, Level 4, ifc mall, Central, Hong Kong, 2383 4008, www.gaiagroup.com.hk/glasshouse